Page "Hi-hat" Paragraph 4

Initial versions of the hi-hat were called clangers, which were small cymbals mounted onto a bass drum rim and struck with an arm on the bass drum pedal.

Then came shoes, which were two hinged boards with cymbals on the ends that were clashed together.

Next was the low-boy or low-hat, similar to a modern hi-hat stand, only with cymbals close to the ground.

Hi-hats that were raised and could be played by hand as well as foot may have been developed around 1926 by Barney Walberg of the drum accessory company Walberg and Auge.